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Wyoming Men #11
Wyoming Homecoming
"...You just can't do better than a Diana Palmer story to make your heart lighter and smile brighter."—Fresh Fiction
New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer's dramatic tale of an embittered small-town sheriff as he comes face to face with the woman who has haunted his dreams for years.
She's haunted his dreams for years, and now she’s back to wreak havoc on his heart
When Sheriff Cody Banks’s wife died, he blamed Abby Brennan for the illness he's sure killed Deborah and, in his grief, made sure she knew it. Looking back now, he knows that his behavior was likely the reason Abby left town years ago. So when he sees her—and the child she’s raising—at her great-uncle's funeral, Cody attempts to apologize, ashamed to see the fear he puts in her beautiful eyes and determined to show her he's no longer that same angry man.
The only reason Abby returned to Catelow, Wyoming, was to bury her last living relative. She has studiously avoided Cody Banks ever since he made it clear how much he resents her, focusing instead on raising her young niece and keeping her own family legacy alive. But when Abby inherits the property adjoining Cody’s, she can't help but face the handsome sheriff who still lingers in her memory. Circumstances keep pulling them together, but has time healed their wounds and given them a chance at a happily-ever-after?
Wyoming Men
Book 1: Wyoming Tough
Book 2: Wyoming Fierce
Book 3: Wyoming Bold
Book 4: Wyoming Strong
Book 5: Wyoming Rugged
Book 6: Wyoming Brave
Book 7: Wyoming Winter
Book 8: Wyoming Legend
Book 9: Wyoming Heart
Book 10: Wyoming True
Book 11: Wyoming Homecoming
New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer's dramatic tale of an embittered small-town sheriff as he comes face to face with the woman who has haunted his dreams for years.
She's haunted his dreams for years, and now she’s back to wreak havoc on his heart
When Sheriff Cody Banks’s wife died, he blamed Abby Brennan for the illness he's sure killed Deborah and, in his grief, made sure she knew it. Looking back now, he knows that his behavior was likely the reason Abby left town years ago. So when he sees her—and the child she’s raising—at her great-uncle's funeral, Cody attempts to apologize, ashamed to see the fear he puts in her beautiful eyes and determined to show her he's no longer that same angry man.
The only reason Abby returned to Catelow, Wyoming, was to bury her last living relative. She has studiously avoided Cody Banks ever since he made it clear how much he resents her, focusing instead on raising her young niece and keeping her own family legacy alive. But when Abby inherits the property adjoining Cody’s, she can't help but face the handsome sheriff who still lingers in her memory. Circumstances keep pulling them together, but has time healed their wounds and given them a chance at a happily-ever-after?
Wyoming Men
Book 1: Wyoming Tough
Book 2: Wyoming Fierce
Book 3: Wyoming Bold
Book 4: Wyoming Strong
Book 5: Wyoming Rugged
Book 6: Wyoming Brave
Book 7: Wyoming Winter
Book 8: Wyoming Legend
Book 9: Wyoming Heart
Book 10: Wyoming True
Book 11: Wyoming Homecoming
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2022
210 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,038 books3,098 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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November 12, 2022DNF.
Besides after just reading The Lion's Lady, these two lackluster sad sacks simply drain the energy from the room.
Besides after just reading The Lion's Lady, these two lackluster sad sacks simply drain the energy from the room.
November 9, 2022
I know I know, I’m biased as regards DP, she’s an old love of mine and I can’t not enjoy her books especially the new ones.
Once I read her preface of one of her books and I was surprised to see that she actually hated her hero, and pitied the heroine, even if that hero wasn’t one of the worst ones, and it was then that I understood that she really enjoyed writing about mean and dumb male heroes and her heroines are really smarter than them and ended in love with the hero somehow pitying him for his many faults.
This one is a typical DP.
- the heroine is naive, innocent and of course virgin (even if she’s not a teenager)
- she’s got the sob story of all sob stories and lost her parents and brother and is all alone with her niece. A cute lil girl.
- she’s plain, even if she seems to have many men interested in her since she’s so sweet she can give you diabetes if you aren’t careful.
- the hero is a man of law, and wronged the heroine years before
- he’s not so smart regarding women in general.
-he’s not so great in bed
- he’s got issues. Many. Trust issues. Communication issues.
- he’s been hurt by a woman
- he’s all alone with a dog
- a lot of sexism with a career oriented woman being cold and selfish and a sweet caring one who only wants to stay at home and have children.
- dichotomy big city evil/ small town good. Career woman bad/ homebody woman good.
The man is no prince as usual DP, he was married to a woman who was a doctor and lived in another city, they met only during the weekend and she didn’t want children. He was madly in love with her. When she died for a strange virus he blamed the heroine and her niece, that makes him a mean and stupid man since the woman was a doctor and actually it was her job being with sick people. Turns out it wasn’t even the heroine who was sick but I wonder, even if she were, whe couldn’t know her virus was lethal to ow.
The heroine leaves the town with her niece and the hero feels like shit because of his behavior.
Years later, the heroine decides to go back to the small town and to live in the ranch her cousin left her.
You know, Denver is such a dangerous and ugly city (is it?) and she’s so glad she can live there.
The man is still pining for his dead ex but tries to make amends to the heroine and soon they become friends because she’s sweet and he loves her niece too.
As the book goes by you learn that his dead ex, rest her in peace, was the greatest bitch of the universe, a cold unfeeling woman who didn’t love animals and children and didn’t like sick people (a doctor, seriously). She was selfish and didn’t even want her husband to go and see her to Denver, which make you think she had something to hide.
Aaaaaaand did she have something to hide.
Basically the bitch had an affair with a colleague who was married and she decided to marry the hero to have a cover to their relationship. Of course she loved her lover and not the hero.
Half the book you wonder how a man - a grown up man- could have been so fool not to see that not only the woman he idolized was a selfish bitch and he would have never been happy with her, but also that she was hiding something.
He was 36 and still hung over his dead bitch of a wife.
Really???
In the meantime his friendship with the heroine becomes more but when he finds out the truth about his wife he’s got cold feet and tries to keep his distance from the heroine and her niece.
Almost falling into another bitch’s trap. Seriously???
Ok, we know he didn’t feel anything and wasn’t even aroused by this one, but he was seen with her around the small town and the heroine was hurt by this sudden turnaround.
But thank god she kept herself cold and didn’t let him see he was hurting her.
And she also went out on a date with another charming man making the hero all jealous and angry.
Thank god the hero understands that he loves her and he immediately asks her to marry him before some other guy could whisk her away under his nose.
There’s also a mystery case that I don’t want to talk about because it was something I didn’t care. Of course the hero is a sheriff so there’s always some case he’s working on but, seriously, all that drama I could do without.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes I did. DP is a very good writer, she’s easy to read and is very entertaining with her cute too sweet and naive heroines and her grumpy not so smart heroes. And her cringy sex. Yes, even that.
Once I read her preface of one of her books and I was surprised to see that she actually hated her hero, and pitied the heroine, even if that hero wasn’t one of the worst ones, and it was then that I understood that she really enjoyed writing about mean and dumb male heroes and her heroines are really smarter than them and ended in love with the hero somehow pitying him for his many faults.
This one is a typical DP.
- the heroine is naive, innocent and of course virgin (even if she’s not a teenager)
- she’s got the sob story of all sob stories and lost her parents and brother and is all alone with her niece. A cute lil girl.
- she’s plain, even if she seems to have many men interested in her since she’s so sweet she can give you diabetes if you aren’t careful.
- the hero is a man of law, and wronged the heroine years before
- he’s not so smart regarding women in general.
-he’s not so great in bed
- he’s got issues. Many. Trust issues. Communication issues.
- he’s been hurt by a woman
- he’s all alone with a dog
- a lot of sexism with a career oriented woman being cold and selfish and a sweet caring one who only wants to stay at home and have children.
- dichotomy big city evil/ small town good. Career woman bad/ homebody woman good.
The man is no prince as usual DP, he was married to a woman who was a doctor and lived in another city, they met only during the weekend and she didn’t want children. He was madly in love with her. When she died for a strange virus he blamed the heroine and her niece, that makes him a mean and stupid man since the woman was a doctor and actually it was her job being with sick people. Turns out it wasn’t even the heroine who was sick but I wonder, even if she were, whe couldn’t know her virus was lethal to ow.
The heroine leaves the town with her niece and the hero feels like shit because of his behavior.
Years later, the heroine decides to go back to the small town and to live in the ranch her cousin left her.
You know, Denver is such a dangerous and ugly city (is it?) and she’s so glad she can live there.
The man is still pining for his dead ex but tries to make amends to the heroine and soon they become friends because she’s sweet and he loves her niece too.
As the book goes by you learn that his dead ex, rest her in peace, was the greatest bitch of the universe, a cold unfeeling woman who didn’t love animals and children and didn’t like sick people (a doctor, seriously). She was selfish and didn’t even want her husband to go and see her to Denver, which make you think she had something to hide.
Aaaaaaand did she have something to hide.
Basically the bitch had an affair with a colleague who was married and she decided to marry the hero to have a cover to their relationship. Of course she loved her lover and not the hero.
Half the book you wonder how a man - a grown up man- could have been so fool not to see that not only the woman he idolized was a selfish bitch and he would have never been happy with her, but also that she was hiding something.
He was 36 and still hung over his dead bitch of a wife.
Really???
In the meantime his friendship with the heroine becomes more but when he finds out the truth about his wife he’s got cold feet and tries to keep his distance from the heroine and her niece.
Almost falling into another bitch’s trap. Seriously???
Ok, we know he didn’t feel anything and wasn’t even aroused by this one, but he was seen with her around the small town and the heroine was hurt by this sudden turnaround.
But thank god she kept herself cold and didn’t let him see he was hurting her.
And she also went out on a date with another charming man making the hero all jealous and angry.
Thank god the hero understands that he loves her and he immediately asks her to marry him before some other guy could whisk her away under his nose.
There’s also a mystery case that I don’t want to talk about because it was something I didn’t care. Of course the hero is a sheriff so there’s always some case he’s working on but, seriously, all that drama I could do without.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes I did. DP is a very good writer, she’s easy to read and is very entertaining with her cute too sweet and naive heroines and her grumpy not so smart heroes. And her cringy sex. Yes, even that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2023
If you are into repetitive, misogynistic books full of cringe- this one is for you! I can't even begin to count the number of time the phrase "The pretty little blonde" or some off-shoot of that was used to describe a character instead of her name. Looks are just so much more important! Or how many times the dogs in this book laughed at their owners! That is a neat little trick I would not want to teach my dog. And don't worry if you forget something about the story, it will come back around in 6 pages or so. And then yet again about 6 pages after that. I would describe this book as "No. Just no."
December 25, 2022
Cute cowboy romance but I needed more romance and less crime and mystery.
October 28, 2022
Wyoming Homecoming, the 11th book in Diana Palmer's Wyoming Men series is, in this reader's opinion, the least interesting novel in the series. It does start out in a rather interesting fashion, with the death of Charlie Butler, which brings the heroine, Abigail Brennan and her orphaned, 9-year-old niece, Lucy, back from Denver to Catelow, Wyoming. Sheriff Cody Banks, is also present at the funeral, Charlie being distantly related to Cody's late wife, Deborah, who died after contracting an exotic and deadly virus, and Abby and Lucy avoid him like the plague. Six years earlier, Cody accosted Abby and Lucy, ranting like a madman and blaming them for his wife's death--which they didn't cause. His wife was a neurologist in Denver, and in the two years they were married, Deborah rarely came home to visit her husband, and the few times she did return to Catelow, it wasn't for long, and, we learn that she was also ice-cold in bed, complaining about his lack of lovemaking skills. The few times Cody visited her in Denver, he never saw anything but her living room. Yet he was madly in love with her, and now, 6 years later, he's still grieving her loss, but as a reader, I had to ask why he was so devoted to a woman he barely knew, and who seemed to barely tolerate him. His love and devotion to this cold, distant woman made no sense at all to this reader, and that's just one of the reasons for giving this novel a 1-star rating.
After some complicated family history, we learn that Charlie Butler left his ranch to Abby, who is only too happy to leave behind her tiny apartment in a terrible neighborhood, as well and the dreadful and dangerous school Lucy attends behind, and as a paralegal, she is immediately hired by a local law firm, leaving the running of the ranch to Charlie's trusted ranch foreman. What she dreads is the fact that Charlie's ranch abuts the small ranch owned by Sheriff Banks, who repeatedly thinks of Abby as plain, and not particularly attractive beyond her nice hair and figure. But eventually, after losing his beloved dog to cancer, Abby and Lucy begin to take him under their wing, invite him over for dinners, and begin to befriend him.
What follows is a series of inter-related crimes--all off-screen, the arrival of a really strange, lying man from Florida, a multiple murder plot, and the on again, off again relationship between Cody and Abby. Of course, she's a virgin who was raised in a home with an abusive alcoholic father and abused mother, which has put her off men entirely. What is revealed about Cody and his late wife isn't surprising, but even with his attraction to the plain but kind Abby, and her adorable niece, Lucy, he starts seeing a pretty, blonde state trooper, ghosting Abby and Lucy, and his not bothering to call or text when his job made it impossible to show up at the dinner they'd invited him to, his sheer rudeness offended me. Abby was far more forgiving than I would have been. Yet, when he learns that another law enforcement officer on the case, Lassiter, was seen taking Abby and Lucy on a Sunday drive, Cody becomes jealous. This is a man who simply cannot make up his mind.
Yes, eventually the crimes are solved and the bad guys put away, but while we learn about the complicated criminal plots after they occur, there was never a single moment of suspense in this novel. Additionally, Sheriff Cody Banks comes off as dumb as a post. He married a woman he knew for a grand total of 2 days, who seemingly wanted nothing to do with him, didn't want to bear the children he hoped to have, yet he is still grieving his lost love 6 years later, and has remained celibate all that time. He repeatedly thinks about how plain looking Abby is, yet for the expected and long-awaited happily ever after ending to this non-romantic romance, proposes marriage to her. I'm still shaking my head.
I've read every single novel Ms. Palmer has ever written, and in this reader's humble opinion, this is one of the worst, least romantic, and most nonsensical of the lot. I'm still reeling over how dense the hero is, how little suspense there was, how lackluster the tone of this novel was, and I simply cannot recommend it.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.
After some complicated family history, we learn that Charlie Butler left his ranch to Abby, who is only too happy to leave behind her tiny apartment in a terrible neighborhood, as well and the dreadful and dangerous school Lucy attends behind, and as a paralegal, she is immediately hired by a local law firm, leaving the running of the ranch to Charlie's trusted ranch foreman. What she dreads is the fact that Charlie's ranch abuts the small ranch owned by Sheriff Banks, who repeatedly thinks of Abby as plain, and not particularly attractive beyond her nice hair and figure. But eventually, after losing his beloved dog to cancer, Abby and Lucy begin to take him under their wing, invite him over for dinners, and begin to befriend him.
What follows is a series of inter-related crimes--all off-screen, the arrival of a really strange, lying man from Florida, a multiple murder plot, and the on again, off again relationship between Cody and Abby. Of course, she's a virgin who was raised in a home with an abusive alcoholic father and abused mother, which has put her off men entirely. What is revealed about Cody and his late wife isn't surprising, but even with his attraction to the plain but kind Abby, and her adorable niece, Lucy, he starts seeing a pretty, blonde state trooper, ghosting Abby and Lucy, and his not bothering to call or text when his job made it impossible to show up at the dinner they'd invited him to, his sheer rudeness offended me. Abby was far more forgiving than I would have been. Yet, when he learns that another law enforcement officer on the case, Lassiter, was seen taking Abby and Lucy on a Sunday drive, Cody becomes jealous. This is a man who simply cannot make up his mind.
Yes, eventually the crimes are solved and the bad guys put away, but while we learn about the complicated criminal plots after they occur, there was never a single moment of suspense in this novel. Additionally, Sheriff Cody Banks comes off as dumb as a post. He married a woman he knew for a grand total of 2 days, who seemingly wanted nothing to do with him, didn't want to bear the children he hoped to have, yet he is still grieving his lost love 6 years later, and has remained celibate all that time. He repeatedly thinks about how plain looking Abby is, yet for the expected and long-awaited happily ever after ending to this non-romantic romance, proposes marriage to her. I'm still shaking my head.
I've read every single novel Ms. Palmer has ever written, and in this reader's humble opinion, this is one of the worst, least romantic, and most nonsensical of the lot. I'm still reeling over how dense the hero is, how little suspense there was, how lackluster the tone of this novel was, and I simply cannot recommend it.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.
December 28, 2022
This book feels very dated in terms of descriptions and social norms. I’ve read probably all of her books and each time I finish them, I always am surprised I continue reading them. The tropes/formula she uses feels very stale to me at this point.
December 12, 2022
Disappointed
Normally I am a huge fan of Diana Palmer books and was looking forward to another Wyoming Men novel. I was looking for a love story that started out nicely but the majority of the book dealt with Cody dealing with his feelings and circumstances regarding his first wife who passed away six years prior. Yes, there was some suspense but very little romance even if they did end up together in the end. Disappointed in the love story part. Would not recommend this book. Not worth the cost.
Normally I am a huge fan of Diana Palmer books and was looking forward to another Wyoming Men novel. I was looking for a love story that started out nicely but the majority of the book dealt with Cody dealing with his feelings and circumstances regarding his first wife who passed away six years prior. Yes, there was some suspense but very little romance even if they did end up together in the end. Disappointed in the love story part. Would not recommend this book. Not worth the cost.
November 19, 2022
Abbie and her niece are back in Catelow for her uncle's funeral. On her last run in with Sheriff Cody Banks years ago he blamed Abbie for his wife's death.
Abbie and Lucy inherit the uncles ranch and move to Catelow. Cody is their next-door neighbor, and after meeting up with him again he knows he blamed the wrong people for his wife's death.
Abbie and Cody spend time together, but Cody is still in love with his wife. There is also someone in town stirring up trouble and looks like they are trying to kill one of the towns people.
Abbie and Lucy inherit the uncles ranch and move to Catelow. Cody is their next-door neighbor, and after meeting up with him again he knows he blamed the wrong people for his wife's death.
Abbie and Cody spend time together, but Cody is still in love with his wife. There is also someone in town stirring up trouble and looks like they are trying to kill one of the towns people.
July 30, 2024
We follow the story of a police officer and a notary. Interesting points were added to the book, mourning, betrayal, crimes and assassination attempts. A light, simple, clean reading and really different from other books by Mrs. Palmer.
In Wyoming homecoming is remarkable the greater presence of suspense in relation to the novel. More murders and robberies than flirtations.
In Wyoming homecoming is remarkable the greater presence of suspense in relation to the novel. More murders and robberies than flirtations.
August 22, 2024
I mean it's a bad series but it's making me kind of want a Wyoming man of my own?
January 9, 2023
If you are a slow reader or have a horrible memory this book is for you. It repeats the same information in each chapter.
It is extremely condescending to big cities and repeatedly emphasizes that itty bitty town life is for the best even though the woman grew up abused in this small ‘perfect’ town. Also the book continually talks negatively about the male’s deceased wife who didn’t want to give up a good career to live in a small town but never does anyone suggest that the male could have chosen to move to be with his wife. The wife he married after knowing her very briefly and only spending a few days with her during their 2 years being married and yet he mourns her still 6 years after her death.
This book feels like it was written in the 1950s with its constant compliments of the dumb male and the expectation that the plain woman should be grateful whenever he gives her attention or teaches her something.
It is extremely condescending to big cities and repeatedly emphasizes that itty bitty town life is for the best even though the woman grew up abused in this small ‘perfect’ town. Also the book continually talks negatively about the male’s deceased wife who didn’t want to give up a good career to live in a small town but never does anyone suggest that the male could have chosen to move to be with his wife. The wife he married after knowing her very briefly and only spending a few days with her during their 2 years being married and yet he mourns her still 6 years after her death.
This book feels like it was written in the 1950s with its constant compliments of the dumb male and the expectation that the plain woman should be grateful whenever he gives her attention or teaches her something.
November 15, 2024
41% I'm out.
December 14, 2022
I need to stick to my genres…
January 9, 2023
Did not finish too sexist and political
April 12, 2023
I loved this book. Didn’t want to put it down
April 14, 2024
Abby inherits a ranch in the small town of Catelow and moves back there with her young niece Lucy after several years living in Denver. Her neighbor is the sheriff, Cody, who raged at Abby and Lucy just after the death of his wife because he blamed Lucy for giving her the disease that killed her. There's a lot of drama with a bank robbery and several attempted murders over inheritances by a con man.
Abby is a sweetheart, kind to everyone, and raising Lucy well. Cody, however, is one of the worst idiots ever meant to be the hero. He married his wife after two days. For the two years they were married before her death, she spent most of the time in Denver, leaving Cody behind in Wyoming except for a few days a month. She was cold to him and mostly ignored him, yet he mourned her desperately for the last six years. He's hot and cold with Abby, noting frequently that she's not attractive when compared to other women, and he takes up with the more attractive blonde trooper. He is also one of the most clueless men I've ever read in a book.
The writing is repetitive (one example is how often Lucy or Abby mention how awful Denver is because they couldn't have pets and the schools were dangerous). The mystery plot is very piecemeal, just all over the place, without much in the way of surprises. There are also many political inserts. I don't like that, whether red or blue, but if an author wants to do that, work it in so it makes sense. You can't tell me small towns are so much safer when you show me that both the central characters (among others) were abused by their fathers. You can't tell me that a small town has more good people when I'm shown that others or the church doesn't help the woman abused by her husband. There are other examples, but this was enough to ruin what little romance was actually there.
Abby is a sweetheart, kind to everyone, and raising Lucy well. Cody, however, is one of the worst idiots ever meant to be the hero. He married his wife after two days. For the two years they were married before her death, she spent most of the time in Denver, leaving Cody behind in Wyoming except for a few days a month. She was cold to him and mostly ignored him, yet he mourned her desperately for the last six years. He's hot and cold with Abby, noting frequently that she's not attractive when compared to other women, and he takes up with the more attractive blonde trooper. He is also one of the most clueless men I've ever read in a book.
The writing is repetitive (one example is how often Lucy or Abby mention how awful Denver is because they couldn't have pets and the schools were dangerous). The mystery plot is very piecemeal, just all over the place, without much in the way of surprises. There are also many political inserts. I don't like that, whether red or blue, but if an author wants to do that, work it in so it makes sense. You can't tell me small towns are so much safer when you show me that both the central characters (among others) were abused by their fathers. You can't tell me that a small town has more good people when I'm shown that others or the church doesn't help the woman abused by her husband. There are other examples, but this was enough to ruin what little romance was actually there.
May 8, 2023
I found the H wasn't the brightest. He shouted and scared the h a few years ago as he blamed her for killing his wife despite that it was a virus that did it and a few years on he is still grieving for his wife despite that she had
treated him like dirt and had cheated on him and he didn't click on about that until later on in the book.
The h comes back on the scene with her niece a few years later and they begin to get close but he seemed to judge her by her looks as she was plain and I found the book a bit depressing because he has a dog at the beginning and he has to put it down due to cancer and I found there was no plot hole for that.
Also not forgetting the ow who was like his wife, beautiful but not at all nice and he ended up hurting the h and spreading gossip by taking the ow out.
So I suppose he hasn't learned his lesson but he gets jealous when the h goes out with another man and he then finds out that the ow isn't at all nice and she is involved in criminal activities so he isn't interested in her now and decides to show the h that he is now interested in her despite him thinking before that he wasn't interested in been tied down and wanting his independence but obviously, he changed his mind and she is now happy and they get together and her niece is now happy.
Personally I would have liked to have seen the h move on with another man and sadly I found myself skipping parts of the book because there was too much crime parts.
treated him like dirt and had cheated on him and he didn't click on about that until later on in the book.
The h comes back on the scene with her niece a few years later and they begin to get close but he seemed to judge her by her looks as she was plain and I found the book a bit depressing because he has a dog at the beginning and he has to put it down due to cancer and I found there was no plot hole for that.
Also not forgetting the ow who was like his wife, beautiful but not at all nice and he ended up hurting the h and spreading gossip by taking the ow out.
So I suppose he hasn't learned his lesson but he gets jealous when the h goes out with another man and he then finds out that the ow isn't at all nice and she is involved in criminal activities so he isn't interested in her now and decides to show the h that he is now interested in her despite him thinking before that he wasn't interested in been tied down and wanting his independence but obviously, he changed his mind and she is now happy and they get together and her niece is now happy.
Personally I would have liked to have seen the h move on with another man and sadly I found myself skipping parts of the book because there was too much crime parts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2022
My first, and last, book by Ms. Palmer. Where to start:
- Hero's dog gets cancer and has to be euthanized. The vet and the heroine tell him that he shouldn't have stayed while the dog was helped over the Bridge because "it's too difficult". Bull****. Your dog LOVES you - stay with him until the last moment - he deserves it. Hero did stay so I gave him 1 point for that.
- Hero really is too stupid to live. He didn't realize that his sainted wife was the bitch from hell and never loved him?! Everyone reading this knew it in the first few pages of this book.
- Dead wife was a career woman who didn't love kids or dogs (or the hero, obviously) so she was a complete horror of a woman, especially compared to the heroine, who only wanted to stay home being a wife & homemaker and have children. Nothing wrong with that should you choose, but it doesn't make her a saint & the career woman evil, the way the characters were written. This book could have been written in the '40's or '50's.
Dreadful.
I could go on but why? I gave Ms. Palmer a chance and learned my lesson. Never again.
- Hero's dog gets cancer and has to be euthanized. The vet and the heroine tell him that he shouldn't have stayed while the dog was helped over the Bridge because "it's too difficult". Bull****. Your dog LOVES you - stay with him until the last moment - he deserves it. Hero did stay so I gave him 1 point for that.
- Hero really is too stupid to live. He didn't realize that his sainted wife was the bitch from hell and never loved him?! Everyone reading this knew it in the first few pages of this book.
- Dead wife was a career woman who didn't love kids or dogs (or the hero, obviously) so she was a complete horror of a woman, especially compared to the heroine, who only wanted to stay home being a wife & homemaker and have children. Nothing wrong with that should you choose, but it doesn't make her a saint & the career woman evil, the way the characters were written. This book could have been written in the '40's or '50's.
Dreadful.
I could go on but why? I gave Ms. Palmer a chance and learned my lesson. Never again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2023
What a waste of time. I'm glad I didn't buy this book. The book was 340 pages long and at about every 5th page, the reader is reminded how much the hero of the book adored/loved his wife. So, if we cut out 68 pages, the book might be a better read; however, then we need to cut out all the times the reader is told how abusive the heroine's father was. Add to that an elongated story about the crimes committed - oh my! I truly think Ms. Palmer was paid by the word and, if so, she was way overpaid. The last issue (brought up in another review) was her description of issues in Denver. I wonder if the author has ever been to Denver or if she did go there and had a bad experience. As a Colorado native, I really resented the constant description of how bad things were. I wonder if Ms. Palmer was thinking of the schools wherever she lived and just used Denver as the bad place. She doesn't need to worry about any other bad reviews from me because I won't read any more of her books.
March 8, 2024
If you are going to write a book, based on a specific state, do your research. As someone who currently lives in northwestern WY, has also lived in the southwestern WY area, along with central western Wy and traveled many parts of the state, I just can’t stand to read such inconsistencies, even about a fictional town. I can deal with fictional places, but to describe where it’s supposed to be with so many inaccuracies?????? How can you state that Abby was moved in one day and being able to see the Tetons on the distance and to state the long drive to Denver, for Cody, which is it???? It just frustrates me, enough to actually comment to my husband about it.
I kept reading, as we were traveling and I didn’t have anything else to read.
The story was ok, it didn’t really get interesting until the investigation started to come together.
I kept reading, as we were traveling and I didn’t have anything else to read.
The story was ok, it didn’t really get interesting until the investigation started to come together.
November 17, 2022
There were so many times I felt like stopping this audio and deleting it, but I trudged on. It was deeply sexist and filled with so much misogyny and can't believe this was written by a woman. Why??? Ms. DP must either have very low self-esteem or hate women. Perhaps she's 80 years old, not sure and I don't care to know as I will never read another one of her books. She constantly described the male MC as so much more intelligent, handsome and superior to the female. Like he had to teach her everything, he knew best, etc. She often described Abby as not very pretty, plain looking as if Cody was doing her a favor and he could do so much better. At one point Cody says he's "conservative"; really, I couldn't tell (sarcasm). When was this book written? 1950?
December 7, 2022
Abby Brennan and her neice, Lucy have returned to Catelaw, Wyoming, after inheriting her great-uncle's ranch. But the thorn in the rose is Sherrif Cody Banks, who six years ago, accused Abby of killing his wife, bringing Abby's sick neice out in public, and giving the virus to his wife. But in the meantime, he found out that he was wrong. And trying to make it up to Abby is nice. But he's ambivalent about trusting people, especially after learning about his late wife's duplicity. Plus there's a couple crimes going on, bank robbery, con artists, murder, that Cody needs to focus on.
Fairly standard fair from Palmer, except Banks realizes his mistake about Abby much sooner than this scenario occurs in some of her past books.
Fairly standard fair from Palmer, except Banks realizes his mistake about Abby much sooner than this scenario occurs in some of her past books.
March 6, 2023
Cody Banks has allowed his deceased wife to fool him into accepting her absences until he finally confronts the truth. But the damage she's done to his confidence with women is complete until he encounters Abby Brennan and her niece at her great-uncle's funeral. And when she inherits his ranch and decides to move there, both Abby and Cody have to confront what he did to her at that funeral weeks earlier.
Now Cody's dealing with a mystery that may also include murder, a crazy-like man who just needs some friends, and the death of his beloved Husky, that wasn't supposed to be his anyway. And Abby can't seem to fight her attraction for Cody. How will this end? As expected. Too bad the repetitions of his angst and hers got to be too much.
Now Cody's dealing with a mystery that may also include murder, a crazy-like man who just needs some friends, and the death of his beloved Husky, that wasn't supposed to be his anyway. And Abby can't seem to fight her attraction for Cody. How will this end? As expected. Too bad the repetitions of his angst and hers got to be too much.
March 9, 2023
When Sheriff Cody Banks’s wife died, he blamed Abby Brennan for the illness he's sure killed Deborah and, in his grief, made sure she knew it. Looking back now, he knows that his behavior was likely the reason Abby left town years ago. So when he sees her—and the child she’s raising—at her great-uncle's funeral, Cody attempts to apologize, ashamed to see the fear he puts in her beautiful eyes and determined to show her he's no longer that same angry man. [amazon synopsis]
Abby only came back to bury her great uncle and raise her niece. Then she inherits the property next to Cody's. We all know where this is going, but getting there is a good read. I didn't know this was part of a series.
Abby only came back to bury her great uncle and raise her niece. Then she inherits the property next to Cody's. We all know where this is going, but getting there is a good read. I didn't know this was part of a series.
January 15, 2023
Sheriff Cody Bank's was still grieving the death of his wife. She had died six years ago. He mistakenly blamed Abby Brennan for her death. Abby and her niece Lucy had come back to Catelow, Wyoming to bury her great uncle Charlie Butler. He left everything to Abby much to her surprise. She was convinced to move back and take a job in Catelow. Her and niece loved living in Catelow. Cody got a chance to apologize to Abby and Lucy. He also discovered things about his deceased wife that had him questioning himself. I loved the dogs in the story. It was a good story about life and people's up and downs.
March 31, 2023
I have loved anything by Diana Palmer for years. Nice sensuous clean romance. It leads you in a direction, but your imagination will have to finish.
Abby and her niece inherited a ranch from her uncle. But she's scared of her neighbor. He was very upset when he lost a family member and took it out on her.
Now she moves back to where he's from and doesn't want to run into him.
Cody was married and loved his wife deeply, but she passed away. Now this girl and woman have moved to the area. After a devastating loss, Cody isn't ready for a new love.
There are twists and turns in this book, that makes this it a page Turner. I hope you enjoy
Abby and her niece inherited a ranch from her uncle. But she's scared of her neighbor. He was very upset when he lost a family member and took it out on her.
Now she moves back to where he's from and doesn't want to run into him.
Cody was married and loved his wife deeply, but she passed away. Now this girl and woman have moved to the area. After a devastating loss, Cody isn't ready for a new love.
There are twists and turns in this book, that makes this it a page Turner. I hope you enjoy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2024
When Sheriff Cody Bank's wife died, he verbally blamed Abby Brennan for her death. Abby moves to Denver and when her brother dies, she raises his daughter, Lucy. Abby and Lucy later return to Catelow for her great-uncle's funeral and Abby inherits his farm. She and Lucy pack up and move back to Catelow. It seems impossible for Abby and Cody not to see more of each other as living on neighboring farms. Sheriff Cody works with detectives and lawyers to solve a bank robbery and murder so the guilty ones can go to jail. Abby and Cody start to heal from their past and develop feelings for each other. This is a sweet small-town romance that I am sure you will enjoy.
September 16, 2025
Wyoming Homecoming by Diana Palmer is a poignant addition to the Wyoming Men series. The story centers on Sheriff Cody Banks, a man burdened by grief and regret after the death of his wife, whom he blamed Abby Brennan for. Years later, Abby returns to Catelow, Wyoming, to bury her great-uncle, only to find herself facing the man who once resented her.
Palmer skillfully delves into themes of forgiveness, healing, and second chances. The evolving relationship between Cody and Abby is both tender and compelling, capturing the complexities of love and loss. The small-town setting adds a layer of charm, making it a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance with emotional depth.
Palmer skillfully delves into themes of forgiveness, healing, and second chances. The evolving relationship between Cody and Abby is both tender and compelling, capturing the complexities of love and loss. The small-town setting adds a layer of charm, making it a perfect read for fans of contemporary romance with emotional depth.
November 25, 2022
I am a huge fan of Diana Palmer and I love how all here stories inter connect... Plus the Wyoming series connecting with Texas.. But this Book was missing a connection I can't put my finger on, I just wondered if there were too many characters with similar names, and the criminal plot was not expanded, on so left me rather confused at times. And some of the minor characters came through as idiots as in Lassiter Jr.
I always love the old fashioned romance of her books, always a feel good buzz, a little more Romance/ Sex may have been good here I think.
I always love the old fashioned romance of her books, always a feel good buzz, a little more Romance/ Sex may have been good here I think.
November 27, 2022
I’m way behind in this delectable series on men in Wyoming!
Cody Learns he’s been duped by his deceased wife Debby while Abby and Lucy, whom he sounded off on after her death, move back into town. A murder investigation ties all of them together in weird webs.
I wanted to bonk Cody over the head for half of the book while he struggled with his male pride. I thought he led Abby on and then paid attention to another woman but got jealous and possessive when Abby dated other men.
I yelled at him at several intervals while reading.
I’m intrigued by Lassiter and I hope he’s the next Montana man!
Cody Learns he’s been duped by his deceased wife Debby while Abby and Lucy, whom he sounded off on after her death, move back into town. A murder investigation ties all of them together in weird webs.
I wanted to bonk Cody over the head for half of the book while he struggled with his male pride. I thought he led Abby on and then paid attention to another woman but got jealous and possessive when Abby dated other men.
I yelled at him at several intervals while reading.
I’m intrigued by Lassiter and I hope he’s the next Montana man!
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